JC Israel Briefing Day 552: Details emerge of Hamas’ de-proscription bid

Hamas’s filing:

Claims Hamas has “never carried out an operation outside of Palestine.”

Claims it has “no presence” in Britain and targets only “occupiers.”

Describes its actions as “resistance” to “Zionist genocide.”

Accuses Britain of aiding “a genocidal war machine” by maintaining the ban.

Argues proscription violates international law and suppresses free speech.

Denies it targets civilians, calling such deaths “accidental”—a claim disproven by evidence.

Says it is a “liberation movement,” comparing itself to the ANC in South Africa and the IRA.

Rejects antisemitism allegations, saying its fight is “against Zionists, not Jews.”

Alleges the UK ban “criminalises speech” and “intimidates” pro-Palestinian voices.

Elsewhere, if talks between Washington and Tehran collapse, Israel will lead potential military action against Iran, according to US President Donald Trump. “Israel will obviously be very much involved in that – it’ll be the leader of that,” he told reporters in the Oval Office yesterday. Trump had just reaffirmed: “If it requires military, we’re going to have military.”

The statement marked his clearest threat yet of coordinated military action and comes ahead of US-Iranian talks on Saturday. But moments later, he added: “Nobody leads us. We do what we want to do.” Trump insisted diplomacy was still possible but warned: “We don’t have much time.” He said Iran “can’t have a nuclear weapon,” adding: “We’re going to let them thrive. I want Iran to be great.”

Ahead of the talks, the US Treasury has imposed new sanctions on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, a former hostage has been inundated with hate messages after criticising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Liri Albag claimed that she received threats, curses, and violent abuse online after blaming Netanyahu for the 7 October failures in a trailer for a TV interview.

Some of the comments, in many cases from pro-Netanyahu online accounts, called her trashy, said she should still be in Gaza, and even derided her weight. The backlash led to her family asking the TV channel to stop airing the trailer.

“I read the comments, I read the threats I received, the curses, and I’m afraid,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m not afraid of the comments themselves, I’m not afraid to meet one of the people who wrote such things to me. I’m afraid of what we’ve become. To wish someone to be taken hostage??? I wouldn’t wish that even on my enemies. To wish me death and revenge??? Wish that on Hamas and our enemies. Not on me.”

She added: “To mock my weight??? Reminds me of those terrorists who laughed at me, who made sure every day to remind me I was fat.”

Elbag insisted she has no political agenda: “It’s not like I used political terms, because I don’t understand politics!!!” She concluded: “It’s better you aim that poison at Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah and the hundreds of enemies we have. Let’s fight our enemies, not each other.” Netanyahu phoned her yesterday, and his office released a statement saying he “expresses solidarity with Liri in light of the attacks she has faced on social media in recent days.”

Israel carried out major airstrikes over Gaza yesterday, reportedly killing 23 people. The IDF said a senior Hamas operative was targeted in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighbourhood, where ground troops are advancing.

In Rafah, forces pushed deeper into the southern Strip, expanding what the military calls a “buffer zone” along the border. The expanded zone now stretches from the Egyptian border through the Morag Corridor to the edge of Khan Younis, effectively placing all of Rafah within its bounds. The IDF says the move is intended to prevent Hamas from rebuilding infrastructure near the frontier.

In related news, around 1,000 current and retired air force reservists have published a letter demanding the return of the hostages in Gaza, even if it means completely ending the Gaza war.

And, on the northern front, the IDF accused Hezbollah of a “blatant” ceasefire violation by rebuilding a weapons site under homes and beside a school in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The site was destroyed in November.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah removed equipment before a scheduled inspection—after being tipped off—then resumed activity after monitors departed. Aerial photographs were cited as evidence. The military called it a “blatant violation” and said it had flagged the activity to the US-led truce mechanism.

In other diplomatic news, Israel and Turkey are holding talks to prevent military clashes in Syria. The development comes after Israeli strikes hit sites Turkey had scouted for future use. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that teams are now coordinating “when needed” to avoid accidental contact between aircraft and forces in shared airspace.

In the West Bank, the IDF raided Nablus and arrested Mohammed al-Bana, a senior Lion’s Den operative, after shooting him in the leg. He was armed with a rifle and grenade, officials said. A second raid captured another Palestinian linked to shootings and weapons trafficking. Both arrests came under Operation Iron Wall, which is expanding beyond Jenin and Tulkarem.

Back in Israel, the fallout continues from Tuesday’s court hearing in which justices slammed the brakes on the government plan to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Yair Lapid yesterday accused the government of orchestrating the disruption at the High Court. The hearing had to be paused as the disturbances were so intense.

Lapid claimed the government “planned it because they are the anarchists.” The disturbance was triggered by Itzik Bontzel, whose son died fighting in Gaza, who denounced the court during a lengthy speech. Likud MP Tally Gotliv was later ejected for interrupting proceedings after the recess. Lapid said the government’s refusal to condemn the incident showed it was complicit. “Not a single word,” he wrote, accusing ministers of seeking to dismantle democratic institutions by undermining the court.

Finally, in Washington, the next US ambassador to Israel has been confirmed. It is Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who is strongly pro-Israel and supportive of the settlements.

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